The Chrystals – The Family of Mary Anne Chrystal wife of John Neil

Introduction

We know from Mary Anne Chrystal’s marriage registration that her parents were Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan (or variants thereof). At Timothy’s death it is stated that his parents were John Chrystal, a farmer and Bridget Cavanah. At Mary’s death her parents are given as Philip McFillan, a farm servant and Susan Logan. At the registration of both these deaths their daughter, Elizabeth, is the informant. My first record of them is at their marriage on 28th June 1858

Marriage of Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan 28 Jun 1858 – Statutory

1858-06-28 MAR Timothy Chrystal + Marion McFillan

“On the Twenty Eighth day of June 1858 at St John’s Chapel, Portugal Street, Glasgow. Marriage after Banns was solemnised between us according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. (Signed) Timothy Chrystal (aged) 23 (of) 26 St Ninian Street, Glasgow, Labourer (Bachelor) (son of) John Chrystal Provision Mercht & Bridget Chrystal Maiden Name Cavanah
AND
(Signed) Marion (her x mark) McFillan (Signed) Catherine (her x mark) McDermott Witness. (Signed) Margaret Reilly Witness (of) 26 St Ninian Street, Glasgow, Dressmaker & Milliner (Spinster) [aged] 28 (daughter of) Philip McFillan, Farmer (Deceased) and Susan McFillan Maiden Name Logan (Deceased)
(Officiating Ministers and Witnesses) (Signed) Val. M. Chisholm Cath. Clergyman 38 Portugal Street (Signed) Margaret Reilly Witness (Signed) Catherine McDermott Witness
The above marriage was registered by me at Glasgow on the Twenty Ninth of June 1858, Jno Mc Thomson Registrarmo “

Marriage of Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan 28 Jun 1858, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Marriages 644/10 107 Page 54 Item 107)

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Here we find that Timothy Chrystal’s parents, John Chrystal (Provisions Merchant) and Bridget Cavanah are both alive but Mary McFillan’s parents, Philip McFillan (Farmer) and Susan Logan are both dead. Timothy is a labourer and Mary is a dress maker and milliner. They both give their usual residence as 26 Ninian Street, Glasgow. (We have reference to St Ninian at the 1841 Census where Thomas Neil and Agnes Feran’s daughter, Elizabeth lives in a lodging house run by Mrs Brogan. She lives there with her new husband Daniel Wilkie.

Marriage of Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan 28 Jun 1858 – Statutory

1858-06-28 MAR Timothy Chrystal + Marion McFillan

“On the Twenty Eighth day of June 1858 at St John’s Chapel, Portugal Street, Glasgow. Marriage after Banns was solemnised between us according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. (Signed) Timothy Chrystal (aged) 23 (of) 26 St Ninian Street, Glasgow, Labourer (Bachelor) (son of) John Chrystal Provision Mercht & Bridget Chrystal Maiden Name Cavanah
AND
(Signed) Marion (her x mark) McFillan (Signed) Catherine (her x mark) McDermott Witness. (Signed) Margaret Reilly Witness (of) 26 St Ninian Street, Glasgow, Dressmaker & Milliner (Spinster) [aged] 28 (daughter of) Philip McFillan, Farmer (Deceased) and Susan McFillan Maiden Name Logan (Deceased)
(Officiating Ministers and Witnesses) (Signed) Val. M. Chisholm Cath. Clergyman 38 Portugal Street (Signed) Margaret Reilly Witness (Signed) Catherine McDermott Witness
The above marriage was registered by me at Glasgow on the Twenty Ninth of June 1858, Jno Mc Thomson Registrarmo “

Marriage of Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan 28 Jun 1858, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Marriages 644/10 107 Page 54 Item 107)

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Here we find that Timothy Chrystal’s parents, John Chrystal (Provisions Merchant) and Bridget Cavanah are both alive but Mary McFillan’s parents, Philip McFillan (Farmer) and Susan Logan are both dead. Timothy is a labourer and Mary is a dress maker and milliner. They both give their usual residence as 26 Ninian Street, Glasgow. (We have reference to St Ninian at the 1841 Census where Thomas Neil and Agnes Feran’s daughter, Elizabeth lives in a lodging house run by Mrs Brogan. She lives there with her new husband Daniel Wilkie.

Children of Timothy Chrystal and Mary McFillan

Children of TImothy Chrystal and Mary McFIllan
Children of TImothy Chrystal and Mary McFIllan

John Chrystal b 3 Jul 1859

Birth of John Chrystal 3 Jul 1859

Bridgeton was to the north of the river to the east of Glasgow Green.

1859-07-03 BIR John Chrystal child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McPhilan [[N232-clip]]

“John Chrystal [born] 3 Jul 1859 [at] 11h 0m PM [at] 29 Rumford Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. [child of] Timothy Chrystal, Labourer and Mary Chrystal Maiden Name McPhilan. [Informant] Mary Chrystal her x mark (Present) [registered by] John McGibbon Assistant Registrar (Witness) [Registered] 23 July 1859 at Glasgow.

Birth of John Chrystal 3 Jul 1859, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/3 1005 7 Page 335 Item 1005)

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John Chrystal at the Censuses

He is found at the 1861 when he is 3 years old and he is the only child of Timothy and Mary Anne; they live at Bridgegate, Tron, Glasgow. I do not have a census return for 1871 for the family so I do not know where any of them were then. John would have been  aged about 12 then. He is not with the family at the 1881 Census either when his parents and his sister, Elizabeth, live at 108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals, Glasgow and I have not found him elsewhere. He does reappear at his marriage to Mary Jane Reid in 1868.

Marriage of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid 7 May 1886

“”On the Seventeenth of May 1886 at St Francis Chapel, Cumberland Street, Glasgow. After publication According to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church [were married]
(Signed) John Chrystal, Grain Van Driver, Bachelor  [aged] 26 [usual residence] 380 Cumberland Street, Glasgow [son of] Timothy Chrystal, Painter (Journeyman) and Mary Chrystal MS McFillan. [minister] Wilfrid de Have
AND
(Signed) Mary Jane Reid her x mark,  (Wilfrid de Have Witness), Brickmoulder, Spinster [aged] 25 [usual residence] 20 Hallside Street, Glasgow. [daughter of] Thomas Reid, Cabinet Maker (Journeyman) and Mary Jane Reid MC McDonald. William McCaffrey Witness, Margaret Montague her x mark Witness Wilfred de Have Witness. [Registered] 19 May 1886 at Glasgow James Nimmo Asst. Registrar””

Marriage of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid 17 May 1886, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Marriages 644/11 101 Page 51 Item 1071

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It is worth noting, in the passing, that MaryJane Reid’s usual address is given as 20 Hallside Street. John Neil dies at 28 Hallside Street on 25 Feb 1889.

Children of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid

Timothy Chrystal b 28 Nov 1886

A Scotland’s People entry for her birth reads “CHRYSTAL ELIZABETH REID F 1871 644 / 3 / 804 Bridgeton”. She died aged 21 months:

Baptism of Timothy Chrystal b 28 Nov 1886
1886-11-28 BIR BAP Timothy Chrystal child of John Chrystal & Mary Jane Reid [[N440-clip]]

“Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, St Francis RC, Glasgow, Gorbals  Page 292 December – January 1886-7
Timothy Chrystal Leg [child of] John Chrystal & Mary Reid [Religion] R.C. 22 Hallside St. [born] 28 Nov 1886 [bap] 27 Dec 1886 [Sponsor] Sarah O’Neil [Clergyman] James Egan”

Baptism of Eliza Timothy Chrystal 27 Dec 1886, Scotlan, Find My Past (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms MP/440/1/2/1)

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I do not have a death registration for Timothy but he seems to have had a short life. A Scotland’s People index entry reads  CHRYSTAL • TIMOTHY • 0 • REID • M • 1887 • 644 / 11 / 140 • Hutchesontown

Eliza Call Chrystal b c Jun 1889

I d not have a birth registration for Eliza Caul Chrysteal but a Scotland’s People index entry for her birth reads “CHRYSTAL ELIZABETH REID F 1871 644 / 3 / 804 Bridgeton”. This fits well with what we know of her death 21 months later.

Death of Eliza Call Chrystal 11 Mar 1891
1891-03-11 DEA Eliza Caul Chrystal child of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid [[N441-clip]]

“Eliza Call Chrystal (Single_ [died] 11 March 1891 [at] 7h 15m P.M. [at] 27 Eglinton Place, Glasgow [aged] 21 months [daughter of] John Chrystal, Housepainter (Journeyman) [and] Mary Jane Chrystal MS Reid. [cause of death] Measles [as cert by] H. D. Macgregor L.A. H.L.M. [Informant] John Chrystal, Father (Present). [Registered] 12 Mar 1891 at Glasgow [by] no Brown Registrar”

Death of Eliza Call Chrystal 11 Mar 1891, Scotland’s People (1891 CHRYSTAL, ELIZA CALL (Statutory registers Deaths 644/12 243 Page 81 Item 243)

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Robert Reid Chrystal b 14 Jun 1889
Birth of Robert Reid Chrystal 14 Jun 1891
1891-06-14 BIR Robert Reid Chrystal child of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid

“Robert Reid Chrystal [born] 14 Jun 1891 [at] 1h 20m AM [at] 27 Eglinton Road, Glasgow [son of] John Chrystal Housepainter (Journeyman)  [and] Mary Jane Chrystal MS Reid    who were married] 17 May 1886 Hutchesontown District [Witness] Mary Jane Chrystal her x mark, Mother.  William Poker Assistant Registrar (Witness) [registered] 19 June 1891 at Glasgow.  William Poker Assistant Registrar””

Birth of Robert Reid Chrystal 14 Jun 1891, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/12 792) Page 264 Item 792)

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Death of Robert Reid Chrystal 26 December 1949

Robert Reid Chrystal was the only child we know of that John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid had together that survived to adulthood; It seems from his death registration that he never married.

1949-12-26 DEA Robert Reid Chrystal child of John Chrystal and Mary Jane Reid [[N443-clip]]

“Robert Reid Chrystal, Engineer’s Labourer, Single [died] 26 December 1949 [at] 7h 0m PM [at] 01 Govan Road (Usual Residence 12 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow) [aged] 58 [son of] John Chrystal House Painter (Deceased) and Mary Jane Chrystal afterwards Mende MS Reid (Deceased) [cause of death] Cerebral Thrombosis. [as cert by]  Mary Batto M.B. Ch B. [Informant] John Mende, Half-Brother, 7 Red Road, Glasgow  [Registered 27 Dec 1949
At Glasgow. J S Mathieson Assistant Registrar”

Death of Robert Reid Chrystal and Mary McFillan 26 Dec 1949, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/17 1041 Page347 Item 1041)

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Burial of Robert Reid Chrystal 29 Dec 1949

Robert Reid Chrystal was buried at St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery on 29 December 1949 aged 58.

1949-12-29 BUR Robert Reid Chrystal child of John Chrystal & Mary Jane Reid [[N444-clip]]

“Robert Reid Chrystal, Engineer’s Labourer, Single [died] 26 December 1949 [at] 7h 0m PM [at] 01 Govan Road (Usual Residence 12 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow) [aged] 58 [son of] John Chrystal House Painter (Deceased) and Mary Jane Chrystal afterwards Mende MS Reid (Deceased) [cause of death] Cerebral Thrombosis. [as cert by]  Mary Batto M.B. Ch B. [Informant] John Mende, Half-Brother, 7 Red Road, Glasgow         [Registered 27 Dec 1949
At Glasgow. J S Mathieson Assistant Registrar”

Burial of Robert Reid Chrystal 26 Dec 1949, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials, SCOT/RC/BUR/0146485, Register of Internments in St Peter.s Cemetery, Dalbeath)

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Of interest here is the fact that the informant is said to be “John Mende, half brother”. John Reid Chrystal’s mother is said to be deceased but she is described as “Mary Jane Chrystal afterwards Mende MS Reid”. This, of course, suggests that after John Chrystal died, she remarried. This together with an earlier census (1911) in the household of a John Mende, who has a wife called Jane Harvey Reid Mende and a son called John Mende and a brother in law called Robert Reid Chrystal, led me a merry chase before I realised there was something fishy about it all. As yet it isunresolved and at the end of this section on John and Jane. I describe the rabbit hole these facts sent me down. For the moment I return to John Reid Chystals parents,

John Chrystal and Mary Jane Chrystal or Reid at the 1891 Census

Last name Rel Stat Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
John Chrystal Head Mar M 31 1860 Painter Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Jane Chrystal Wife Mar F 29 1862 – Irvine, Ayrshire

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census, 27 Eglinton Place, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Find My Past, 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 30 , Enumeration district: 28 , Record ID: GBC/1891/0033916343)

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Here we find the couple without children. Timothy (born 1866) and Eliza Caul (born 1889) both died in infancy. Their next child, Robert Reid Chrystal was to be born a couple of months after this census. John Chrystal died before the taking of the next census in 1901.

Death of John Chrystal 13 March 1898

1898-03-12 DEA John Chrystal child of Timothy Cristal and Mary McFillan [[N438-clip]]

“John Chrystal, Pauper (Formerly House Painter Journeyman), Married to Jane Reid [died] 13 March 1898  10h 30m PM [at] Govan Poorhouse (Former Residence 28 McAlpine Street, Glasgow) [aged] 39 years [son of] Timothy Chrystal House Painter (Deceased) and  Mary Chrystal MS McFillan. [cause of death] phthisis pulmonalis [as cert by] Thomas Kirkwood M.B. C.M [Informant] Mary Anne Neil  her x mark, Sister [of] 105 Stockwell Street, Glasgow. [registrar] F B Crawford. {registered] 16 March at Govan by F B Crawford Registrar

Death of John Chrystal 13 March 1898, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 646/2 277) p 93 Entry 277)

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John died of phthisis pulmonalis which was pulmonary consumption – a wasting disease with destruction of the lungs. He died as a “pauper” and this is surprising. The informant is not his wife either – it is his sister Mary Ann Chrystal, the wife of John Neil.

Mary Jane Reid after John Chrystal’s Death – A Frustrating Rabbit Hole

I mentioned above, whilst looking at the death of John Chrystal that the informant is said to be “John Mende, half brother”. John Reid Chrystal’s mother is said to be deceased but she is described as “Mary Jane Chrystal afterwards Mende MS Reid”. This, of course, suggests that after John Chrystal died, she remarried. Below I briefly describe how I researched this and how, in the end, I gave up in confusion.

Naturally, after John Chrystal’s death, I looked to see if I could find Mary Jane Reid or Chrystal at any of the censuses following John Chrystal’s death in 1898. So I looked at 1901 and 1911 for her or her surviving son Robert Reid Chrystal. When I did this I came across a 1911 Census return for 2a Wellcroft Place that had a “step-son” Robert Reid Crystal aged 19 so probably born about 1892. Since I knew that “my” Robert Reid Crystal was born 14 Jun 1891, I thought that this was a really good fit. The wife in the household was Jane Mende aged 39 So born circa  1872. This is all wrong but I failed to consider this properly in my enthusiasm about finding Robert Reid Crystal. Additionally I was drawn to the fact that when Robert Reid Chrystal died in 1949 his “usual residence” was given as 12 Wellcroft Place. This led me to look at the 1901, 1911 and 1921 Census for the family to see if more would emerge. I was thinking that this could be Mary Jane Reid remarrying.

1901 Census 4 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow
1901-03-31 CEN John Mende + Mary Jane Harvey Reid or Mende 4 Wellcroft Place [[N446-clip]
Name Rel Status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
John Mende Head M M 37 1864 Joiner Germany
Jane Mende Wife M F 39 1862 – Irvine, Ayrshire
Rob Mende Son – M 2 1899 – Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Ann Mende Dau – F 1 1900 – Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1901 Census 4 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland Scotland’s People (1901 MENDE, JOHN (Census 644 / 12 19 / 11) Page 11 of 28)

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Here we see Jane is aged 39 and born Irvine, Ayrshire. Our Mary Jane Reid was born in approx 1860 so this just about fits. There is also a child Rob. The Robert Reid Chrystal that she bore with her first husband was born 14 Jun 1891 which would make him 2 years old which fits well with this child. There is another child, Ann who is aged 1 so born c 1900. I could not find a birth for this child under Chrystal, Reid or Mende.
We find the family again at the 1911 Census.

1911 Census 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow
1911-04-02 CEN John Mende + Jane Harvey Reid or Mende 2a Wellcroft Place [[N445-clip]
Name Rel Age Stat Sex Occupation Industry Birth place
John Mende Head 47 Mar M Joiner No British Loco Wks Locomotives Germany
Jane Harvey Reid Mende Wife 49 Mar F Irvine, Ayrshire
John Mende Son 9 M School Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Ann Smith Caldwell Mende Daughter 11 F School Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Robert Reid Crystal Step-Son 19 S M Carriage Cleaner Railway Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Robert Caldwell Reid Bro-in-Law 52 S M Labourer Sugar Mills Irvine, Ayrshire

1911 Census 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland Scotland’s People (1911 MENDE, JOHN (Census 644 / 17 19 / 30) Page 19 of 26)

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There is quite a bit to tease out of this.  It would be a fair assumption that the Ann Mende aged 1 in the 1901 Census is the same as the Ann Smith Caldwell Mende aged 11 in the 1911 Census. But what about the Rob Mende aged 2 in 1901. I could neither find a birth nor a death for this child. Robert Reid Chrystal we know is Mary Jane’s child from her first marriage.
She also has a brother, Robert Caldwell Reid, aged 52 so born about 1859 living with them. I found a birth that seemed likely but that was in 1862. “Robert Reid, birth place Govan, Lanarkshire, Father’s name Thomas Reid, Mother’s name Jane McDonald“.

1921 Census 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow
1921-06-19 CEN John Mende +Jane Harvey Reid 2a Wellcroft Place [[N447-clip]
Name Rel Age Y Age M Sex Stat Birth place Occupation Employment
John Mende Head 57 10 M M Koenigsburg, Germany Joiner No British Loco Co, Glasgow
Jane H R Mende Wife 59 10 F M Irvine, Ayrshire HD
Ann S C Mende Daughter 21 10 F S Glasgow, Lanarkshire Warehouse Assistant W M Wallace & Co Warehousemen
John Mende Son 19 4 M S Glasgow, Lanarkshire Bolt Cutting Machinist Ritchie & Co., Glasgow
Robert R Chrystal Boarder 30 M S Glasgow, Lanarkshire General Labourer No British Loco Co, Glasgow

1921 Census 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland Scotland’s People (1911 MENDE, JOHN (Census 644 / 17 30 / 9) Page 9 of 27)

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There is quite a bit to tease out of this.  It would be a fair assumption that the Ann Mende aged 1 in the 1901 Census is the same as the Ann Smith Caldwell Mende aged 11 in the 1911 Census. But what about the Rob Mende aged 2 in 1901. I could neither find a birth nor a death for this child. Robert Reid Chrystal we know is Mary Jane’s child from her first marriage.
She also has a brother, Robert Caldwell Reid, aged 52 so born about 1859 living with them. I found a birth that seemed likely but that was in 1862. “Robert Reid, birth place Govan, Lanarkshire, Father’s name Thomas Reid, Mother’s name Jane McDonald“.

The flies in the ointment for this are

  • I could not find a marriage of John Mende to a Mary Jane Reid or Chrystal.
  • I could not find the births of these children.
  • I had not heard of the Harvey middle name for Mary Jane
  • I had not heard of the middle names of Smith and Cauldwell in the entry for Ann Smith Caldwell Mende

What kept attracting me to the theory that this could be a remarriage were:

  • Be that as it may I was still convinced about the Robert Reid Chrystal step-son of the correct age.
  • I was also perhaps a little thrown that both Mary Jane Reid or Chrystal was born in the same place as Jane Harvey Reid Mende – Irvine Ayrshire
  • The mention of Reid as a middle name for both “wife” and “step-son”

In the end what settled it for me was finding the death of Jane Harvey Mende on 8 Jan 1928 where it showed

Death of Jane Harvey Mende 8 Jan 1928
1928-01-08 DEA Jane Harvey Reid Mende wife of John Mende 2a Wellcroft Place [[N448-clip]

“Jane Harvey Mende Married to John Mende, Joiner [died] 8 January 1928 [at] 2h 10m AM [at] Victoria Infirmary (Usual Address 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow [aged] 66 years [daughter of] William Reid, Upholsterer (deceased) [and] Ann Smith Reid MS Caldwell (deceased). [cause of death] Volvulus of Sigmoid Colon, Obstruction of Bowels As Cert by Wm J Murray MB CHK [informant] John Mende Widower [of] 2a Wellcroft Place, Glasgow (Present) {registered] 9 Jan 1926 at Glasgow”

Death of Jane Harvey Mende or Reid 1 8 Jan 1928, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/24 21) p 7 Entry 21)

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Well this put the final nail in the coffin of this one. I wanted to see if I could find the marriage of this couple – now clearly not mine despite the intriguing step-son Robert Reid Crystal. To this end I looked for the birth of one of their children which would give me a marriage date for John Mende. I found the birth of Ann Smith Caldwell Mendey and a near-twin Jane Reid.

Birth of Ann Smith Caldwell Mendey 14 Aug 1899
1899-08-14 BIR Ann SC + Jane R Mendey children of John Mende + Jane Harvey Reid [[N449-clip]]

“Ann Smith Caldwell Mendey [born] 14 August 1899 [at] 10h 50m AM [at] 4 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow [daughter of] John Mendey, Joiner (Journeyman) [and] Jane Mendey MS Harvey [who were married] 20 Oct 1896, Blackfriars District, Glasgow. [ informant] John Mendey Father (Present) [registered] 25 Aug 1899 Glasgow [by] William Potter Assistant Registrar”

” 
Jane Reid Mendey [born] 16 August 1899 [at] 11h 30m AM [at] 4 Wellcroft Place, Glasgow [daughter of] John Mendey, Joiner (Journeyman) [and] Jane Mendey MS Harvey [who were married] 20 Oct 1896, Blackfriars District, Glasgow. [ informant] John Mendey Father (Present) [registered] 25 Aug 1899 Glasgow [by] William Potter Assistant Registrar”

Birth of Ann Smith Caldwell Mendey 14 Aug 1899, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/12/949) p 317 Entries 949 and 950)

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So both children were registered on the same day but they were born two days apart.
These registrations give us the date of 20 October 1899 for the marriage of the parents. John Chrystal died on 13 Mar 1898! – I keep thinking that there is some connection between these people; I just cannot see how a Robert Reid Crystal of the same age as ours is on the 1911 Census described as “step-son”. I have already spent far too long on this question considering how tangential this marriage is to my main line. But I don’t want to throw away the research just in case !

Mary Anne Chrystal b 26 Jun 1861

Birth of Mary Anne Chrystal 26 Jun 1861

1861-06-26 BIR Mary Ann Chrystal child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McFullen [[N028-clip]]

“Mary Ann Chrystal [born] 26 Jun 1861 [at] 4h om AM [at] 33 Bridgegate, Glasgow [child of] Timothy Chrystal, House Painter (Journeyman) and Mary Chrystal Maiden Name Logan McPhilan. [who were married] 28 Jun 1858 at Glasgow.  [Informant] Mary Chrystal her x mark (Mother) [registered by] Murdock Macleod Assistant Registrar (Witness) [Registered] 2 July at Glasgow District of Clyde.”

Birth of Mary Ann Chrystal 26 Jun 1861, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/5/648 Page 216 Item 49)

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(For a photographic image of Close No 157, Bridgegate see Glasgow University’s archive of The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow and also Thomas Annan’s original book “Photographs of the Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow 1868/1877 with a supplement of 15 related views Dover Publications Inc 1977. ISBN 0-486-23442-8” Plates 36, 47, 48, 49, 54)

May Ann Chrystal at the Censuses

I do not have a census return for 1871 for the family so I do not know where any of them were then. Mary Ann would have been  aged about 9 then. She is not with the family at the 1881 Census because she married John Neil on 2 Oct 1880 and by the next census they were living at 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals.
The rest of Mary Anne’s story is that of her husband and their family.

Eliza Caul Chrystal b 20 Oct 1863

Birth of Eliza Caul Chrystal b 20 Oct 1863

1863-10-20 BIR Eliza Caul Chrystal child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McFillan - 92 Bridgegate [[N234-clip]]

“Eliza Caul Chrystal [born] 20 Oct 1863 [at] 8h 30m AM [at] 92 Bridgegate, Glasgow [child of] Timothy Chrystal, House Painter and Mary Chrystal Maiden Name McFillan. [who were married] 28 Jun 1858 at Glasgow.  [Informant] Mary Chrystal her x mark (Mother) [registered by] John Stone Registrar (Witness) [Registered] 3 Nov at Glasgow District of Clyde”

Birth of Eliza Caul Chrystal 20 Oct 1863 , Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/5/975 )

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(For a photographic image of Close No 157, Bridgegate see Glasgow University’s archive of The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow and also Thomas Annan’s original book “Photographs of the Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow 1868/1877 with a supplement of 15 related views Dover Publications Inc 1977. ISBN 0-486-23442-8” Plates 36, 47, 48, 49, 54)

I also found a baptism for Eliza:

Baptism of Eliza Caul Chrystal 9 Nov 1863

1863-11-09 BIR BAP Eliza Christal child of Timothy Cristal and Mary McFillan [[N435-clip]]

“”Eliza Lawful [child of] Timothy Christal & Mary McFillan [born] 20 Oct 1863 [baptised] 9 November 1863 [Sponsor] Eliza Masterson [Priest] Jas Mc??”

Baptism of Eliza Caul Chrystal 9 Nov 1863 , Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral 1863, Page 331)

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(For a photographic image of Close No 157, Bridgegate see Glasgow University’s archive of The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow and also Thomas Annan’s original book “Photographs of the Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow 1868/1877 with a supplement of 15 related views Dover Publications Inc 1977. ISBN 0-486-23442-8” Plates 36, 47, 48, 49, 54)

Eliza Caul Chrystal at the Censuses

I do not have a census return for 1871 for the family so I do not know where any of them were then. Mary Ann would have been  aged about 7 then. She is found with the family at the 1881 Census though when she is a 17 year-old unemplyed spinster living at 108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals.

1881 Census 108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals, Glasgow
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Occupation Where Born
Timothy Chrystal Head Mar M 47 House Painter Ireland
Mary Chrystal Wife Mar F 57 Ireland
Elizabeth Chrystal Daughter Unm F 17 Spinster (Unemployed) Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1881 Census  108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Find My Past (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 83 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028516626)

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1891 Census 7 Muirhead Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Name Relation Cond Sex Age Occupation Where Born
Timothy Chrystal Head M M 53 House Painter Ireland
Mary Chrystal Wife M F 56 Ireland
Eliza Chrystal Daughter S F 25 Tobacco Worker Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Mary Ann Neil Granddaughter S F 10 Scholar Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1891 Census  7 Muirhead Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Find My Past (1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 56 , Enumeration district: 73 , Record ID: GBC/1891/0033939578)

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Eliza was the informant at both the death registrations of her father (1897) and her mother (1898). It seems she never married. I have not found her at the 1901, 1911 or 1921 censuses, so the next record I have for her is at her death in 1929.

Death of Eliza Caul Chrystal 26 Jun 1929

1929-06-26 DEA Eliza Caul Chrystal child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McFillan [[N450-clip]]

“1929 Deaths in the District of Dennistoun in the Burgh of Glasgow
Eliza Caul Chrystal, Charwoman, Single, [died] 26 June 1929 [at]  7h 10m PM  [at] 253 Duke Street, Glasgow [[Eastern District Hospital]] (UR 9 Ross Street) [aged] 65 [daughter of] Timothy Chrystal Housepainter (Deceased) [and] Mary Chrystal MS McFillan  (Deceased) [cause of death] Cerebral Haemorrhage [as cert by]  Thomas R. Baird M.B., ChB [informant] John Neil, Nephew [of]  68 Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow [registered] 27 Jun 1929 at Glasgow [by] Walter J. McKenzie  Registrar”

Death of Eliza Caul Chrystal 26 Jun 1929 , Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/4/1049 Page 350 Item 1049 )

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Here we see that Eliza is still single and she has been a charwoman. The informant at her death is “John Neil, nephew“; this would be her sister, Mary Anne Chrystal’s son, John Neil, who was born 1 Jun 1890 and would be about 40 years old at this time. I am not sure why he is the informant but both her parents were obviously dead as were her brother, John, who died in 1898 and John’s mother, Eliza’s sister, Mary Anne Chrystal or Neil, had died at 10 Eglinton Lane in 1916. Her only other sibling , Bridget, had died at bith so there were no obviously very close relatives alive. Her brother had a son, Robert Reid Chystal, that was still alive but most of her living relatives were the children of her sister, Mary Ann and her husband John Neil.

She died at the Eatern District Hospital but her usual address was 9 Ross Street. This was an unfamiliar street for me so I reasearched this a bit and found a reference in “Glasgow Common Lodging-Houses and The People Living in Them”, a typwritten dissertation by Stuart I. A. Laidlaw (which can be downloaded from here) which was written in 1956, describes 9 Ross Street a lodging-house for women:

“This lodging-house for women was first opened in 1914 by a Mrs. Watson, who converted it from dwelling-houses with a public house on the ground floor. The present owners acquired it in 1924.
This five-storey building (photograph 10) accommodates 62. The ground flat contains an office, observation room and toilet room. It also contains a common room with hot-plate. Although the wooden benches, tables and floors are scrubbed, they are very dirty, as some of the lodgers spill food and liquid carelessly. Lockers are provided on the wall.
Stone stairs lead to the upper flats. The first has 22 beds closely arranged, with a very motley collection of bedding and no chairs (photograph 7). The second and third flats have two smaller dormitories, and the fourth flat is not in use. Each flat is provided with a sink and water closet (without a seat) on the landing.
The general impression of this house is that I t is shabby and unkempt, and that the facilities for the lodgers are meagre. No shop, bathroom, central heating or hot water is provided. There is electric light throughout, but low powered bulbs give inadequate lighting. It is the only lodging-house still within the terms of the Act, and only recently has the charge of 9d. and 1/- been made into a uniform rate of 1/- per night. This lodging-house was demolished in May, 1954.”

“Glasgow Common Lodging-Houses and The People Living in Them”, by Stuart I. A. Laidlaw. See pp 104-5, 334-5

Eliza Caul Chrystal was buried in St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery on 28 June 1929

Burial of Eliza Cau Chrystal 28 Jun 1929

1929-6-18 BUR Eliza Cau Chrystal hild of Timothy Cristal and Mary McFillan [[N436-clip]]

“St Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeath – Internments in Common Ground 1929
Jun 28 Eliza Caul Chrystal [aged] 65 [disease] 253 Duke Street 7/9 [cost] £1 15s”

Burial of Eliza Caul Chrystal 28 Jun 1929, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials, St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery, SCOT/RC/BUR/0264110)

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Bridget Chrystal 26 Jan 1867

Birth of Bridget Chrystal 26 Jan 1867

1867-01-26 BIR Bridget Chrystal child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McPhilan -87 Saltmarket [[N233-clip]]

“Bridget Chrystal [born] 26 Jan 1867 [at] 5h 0m AM [at] 87 Saltmarket Street, Glasgow [child of] Timothy Chrystal, Painter (Journeyman) and Mary Chrystal Maiden Name  McFillan. [who were married] 28 Jun 1858 at Glasgow.  [Informant] Timothy Chrystal Father Present [registered by] W Blackwood Registrar 12 February 1867 District of Calton at Glasgow.

Birth of Bridget Chrystal 26 Jan 1867 , Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/4/198 Page 66 Item 198 )

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I also found a baptism for Bridget:

Baptism of Bridget Chrystal 13 Feb 1867

1867-01-25 BIR BAP Bridget Crystall child of Timothy Chrystal + Mary McFillan [[N358-clip]]

“St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Glasgow
Bridget lawful [child of]  Timothy Crystall and Mary McFillan [born] 25 Jan 1867 [bap] 13 Feb 1867      [sponsor] Bridget Kavanah”

Baptism of Bridget Chrystal 13 Feb 1867 , Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral 1867, Page 469)

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Bridget Cavanagh is the sponsor and this could be the child’s paternal grandmother, Bridget Cavanagh. Unfortunately, Bridget only lasted 17 months and she died 11 Jul 1868.

Death of Bridget Chrystal 11 Jul 1868

1868-07-11 DEA Bridget Chrystal child of Timothy Cristal and Mary McFillan [[N437-clip]]

“1868 Deaths in the District of Calton in the Burgh of Glasgow
“Bridget Chrystal (Single) [died] 11 July 1868 [at] 3h 15m PM [at] 87 Saltmarket Street, Glasgow [aged] 17 months [child of] Timothy Chrystal Painter (Journeyman) and Mary Chrystal MS McFillan [cause of death] Diarrhea 17 Days. No medical attendant. [Informant] Mary Chrystal her x mark Mother [Witness] John Hamilton, Assistant Registrar. [Registered] 13 July 1868 at Glasgow [by] John Hamilton, Assistant Registrar.”

Death of Bridget Chrystal 11 July 1868, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/4/638 Page 213 Item 638)

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The Chrystals at the Censuses

We can follow the lives of Timothy CHrystal and Mary McFIllan through several census returns

1861 Census Bridgegate, Tron, Glasgow

Name Relation Cond Sex Age Occupation Where Born
Timothy Chrystal Head Mar M 23 Painter (House) Ireland
Mary Chrystal Wife Mar F 32 Dress Maker Ireland
John Chrystal Son Unm M 3 Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Rosan McLellan Lodger Unm F 60 Cotton Mill Winder Ireland
Elsabeth Mackie Lodger Wid F 50 Washer Woman Ireland

1861 Census Return for Bridgegate, Tron, Glasgow. Find My Past (1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 105 , Enumeration district: 20 , Record ID: GBC/1861/0023623919)

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Here we see Timothy and Mary with their first child, John, who was born 3 Jul 1859 at 29 Rumford Street Bridgeton. I am not sure how this fits with them being on the other side of the river at the taking of the 1861 Census. Timothy is a house painter and Mary is a dress maker; both are said to have been born in Ireland. Timothy is 23 and Mary is 32. This is a nine year gap between the couple but at their marriage Mary was only 5 years older than Timothy; respectively they were 23 and 28 -so it would appear that over the three years since they married Timothy has not aged at all but Mary has! John is aged 3 and there are two lodgers living with them.

Mary Ann was pregnant at the taking of this census with her second child, also named Mary Ann, being born three months after the 1861 Census was taken at 33 Bridgegate. Their next child, Eliza Caul Chrystal was born 20 Oct 1863 at 92 Bridgegate and the last child I know they had, Bridget, was born 26 January 1867 at 87 Saltmarket Street, Calton. So far I have been unable to find this family at the 1871 Census so the next time we see them is at the 1881 Census.

1881 Census 108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals, Glasgow

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Occupation Where Born
Timothy Chrystal Head Mar M 47 House Painter Ireland
Mary Mcf Chrystal Wife Mar F 57 Ireland
Elizabeth Chrystal Daughter Unm F 17 Spinster (Unemployed) Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1881 Census Return for 108 Rutherglen Loan, Gorbals, Glasgow. Find My Past (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 83 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028516626)

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At this census the family are living at 108 Rutherglen Loan which ran from Main Street to South Wellington Street where it became Rutherglen Road. In this return we find that Timothy is 47 and Mary is 57 so the nine or ten year gap that we we saw at the 1861 Census is confirmed here despite their relative ages as given at their marriage. Their son, John, is not in the household; he would have been about 21 years old but I have not found him in the census anywhere. Their next child, Mary Ann, who was born in 1861 had married John Neil in 1880 when she was aged 19. At the taking of this census she was living at 4 Surrey Street and did not have any children. Their first child, Mary Ann, was born on 16 Jul 1881 so she was well advanced in her pregnancy at the census. Her sister, Elizabeth, is at the family home, however, and she is now aged 17 and is unmarried and unemployed. The last of their known children, Bridget was born in 1867 but died in 1868 as described above.

1891 Census Muirhead Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

Name Relation Cond Sex Age Occupation Where Born
Timothy Chrystal Head Mar M 53 House Painter Ireland
Mary Chrystal Wife Mar F 56 Ireland
Eliza Chrystal Dau Unm F 25 Tobacco Worker Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Mary Ann Neil Granddaug F 10 Scholar Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1891 Census Return for 7 Muirhead Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Find My Past (1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 56 , Enumeration district: 73 , Record ID: GBC/1891/0033939578)

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Here we see the Timothy and Mary ten years later but mysteriously the age-gap between him and Mary is reduced and Timothy is said to be 53 (he was ages 47 at the previous census) and Mary is 56 (she was 57 at the previous census) so the age confusion continues. It even spreads to their daughter, Eliza, who was 27 in 1881 is 25 at the 1891 Census!. The family have moved from Rutherglen Loan to nearby Muirhead Street. Timothy Chrystal’s occupation remains house painter but by now Elizabeth is a Tobacco Worker but still unmarried. There is also a granddaughter, Mary Ann, who as we have seen above was the daughter their daughter, Mary Anne Chrystal who had married John Neil in 1880. The grand-daughter’s parents lived at 31 Salisbury Street, Tradeston with three other of their children at the taking of this census.

The family are not to be found at the 1901 Census becasue Timothy Chrystal died in 1897 and Mary followed in 1898. Their son, John, had died in Govan Poorhouse in 1898 aged 39, Their daughter, Mary Ann had married John Neil and had a family that is part of our main narrative. Eliza Caul Chrystal was the informant at the death sof both her parents. ELiza, herself, was to die on the Eastern District hospital in 1929 where her usual address was given as 9 Ross Street which I believe was a a lodging-house for women (See above)

Death of Timothy Chrystal 9 Jun 1897

1987-06-09 DEA Timothy Chrystal husband of Mary McFillan [[N092-clip]]

1897 Deaths in the District of Gorbals in the Burgh of Glasgow
“Timothy Chrystal Housepainter (Journeyman) married to Mary McFillin [died] 9th June 1897 [at] 2h 45m am [at] 194 Main Street, Glasgow. Male 65 years. [Son of ]John Chrystal, Farmer (deceased) [and] Bridget Chrystal , ms Cavanagh (deceased). [cause of death] Acute Hepatitis 7 Days. As Cert By Thomas Calvin MB CM [Informant] Elizabeth Chrystal, Her x Mark Daughter (present). Jno Brown witness Registered 9th June 1897 at Glasgow [by] Jno Brown Registrar.

Death of Timothy Chrystal 9 Jun 1897 , Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/12/0441 Page 147 Item 441 )

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Timothy was buried at St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery two days later.

Burial of Timothy Chrystal 11 Jun 1897

1987-06-11 BUR Timothy Chrystal husband of Mary McFillan [[N092b-clip]]

“St. Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeath – Internments in Common ground
11 Jun 1897 Timothy Chrystal [aged] [65 cause of death] Debility [cost] 10/6d”

Burial of Timothy Chrystal 11 Jun 1897 , Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials, St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery, SCOT/RC/BUR/0217229)

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Death of Mary Chrystal or McFillan 23 Jun 1898

1898-06-23 DEA Mary Chrystal widow of Timothy Chrystal - 194 Main Street [[N235-clip]]

1898 Deaths in the District of Gorbals in the Burgh of Glasgow
“Mary Chrystal Widow of Timothy Chrystal Housepainter (Journeyman) [died] 23 Jun 1898[at] 3h :30m am [at] 194 Main Street, Glasgow. Female 64 years. [Daughter of ]Philip McFillan, Farm Servant (deceased) [and] Susan McFillan , ms Logan(deceased). [cause of death] Apoplexy As Cert By John S Rankin MB CM [Informant] Elizabeth Chrystal, Her x Mark Daughter. Jno Brown witness. Registered 24th June 1898 at Glasgow [by] Jno Brown Registrar.

Death of Mary Chrystal 923Jun 1898 , Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/12/383 Page 128 Item 383 )

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Mary was buried at St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery two days later.

Burial of Mary Chrystal 26 Jun 1898

1898-06-26 BUR Mary Chrystal wife of Timothy Chrystal [[N451-clip]]

1898 St Peter’s Cemetery Dalbeth – Interments in Common Ground
“Jun 26 Mary Chrystal [aged] 65 [disease] Debility 10/6d”

Burial of Mary Chrystal 26 Jun 1898 , Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials, St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery, SCOT/RC/BUR/0219631)

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Some Notes of the Origins of the Chrystals

I have found an online suggestion here that Timothy Chrystal was born in Sligo, Connacht, Ireland. Sligo is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo in the western province of Connacht in Ireland. The same link says that Mary McFillan was born in 1835 in County Londonderry , Ireland. There are other links here that suggest siblings for Mary McFillan but no sources are cited.